Cruel to Be Kind: Part 1 of 3: Saying no can save a child’s life

Cruel to Be Kind: Part 1 of 3: Saying no can save a child’s life
Cathy Glass

Cruel To Be Kind is the true story of Max, aged 6. He is fostered by Cathy while his mother is in hospital with complications from type 2 diabetes.Cruel To Be Kind is the true story of Max, aged 6. He is fostered by Cathy while his mother is in hospital with complications from type 2 diabetes. Fostering Max gets off to a bad start when his mother, Caz, complains and threatens Cathy even before Max has moved in. Cathy and her family are shocked when they first meet Max. But his social worker isn’t the only one in denial; his whole family are too.

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Copyright (#ud047c53f-68b0-56a4-9d5d-0795a69c814f)

Certain details in this story, including names, places and dates, have been changed to protect the family’s privacy.

HarperElement

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First published by HarperElement 2017

FIRST EDITION

© Cathy Glass 2017

Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2017

Cover photograph © Iwona Podlasińska/Arcangel Images (boy, posed by a model)

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Cathy Glass asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

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Source ISBN: 9780008252007

Ebook Edition © August 2017 ISBN: 9780008252045

Version: 2017-07-18

Contents

Cover (#u159b15aa-0054-52d4-b692-acc72232da29)

Title Page (#ud59185ea-80a6-5aad-99f7-3f141fef32e9)

Copyright (#u6f9aa039-e867-5d19-ba1c-ea234bc74dcd)

Acknowledgements (#u6d276318-ee5c-58b1-bea4-8b527698d354)

Prologue (#u3682a380-338d-5a2d-b143-456d6ce54617)

Chapter One: A Bad Start (#u32e8a385-369e-5e46-9a30-09f4bf55c28c)

Chapter Two: Max (#u195605b1-7f47-5371-99f7-ef097b7e8c36)

Chapter Three: Amazed (#ue6d94cf1-f8ec-5b3f-abe9-62d3ff9ab998)

Chapter Four: A Healthy Appetite? (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five: Restless Night (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six: Hostile (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven: Joining In (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight: Tears (#litres_trial_promo)

Moving Memoirs eNewsletter (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

Acknowledgements (#ud047c53f-68b0-56a4-9d5d-0795a69c814f)

A big thank you to my family; my editors, Carolyn and Holly; my literary agent, Andrew; my UK publishers HarperCollins, and my overseas publishers who are now too numerous to list by name. Last, but definitely not least, a big thank you to my readers for your unfailing support and kind words. They are much appreciated.

Prologue (#ud047c53f-68b0-56a4-9d5d-0795a69c814f)

Since I began writing my fostering memoirs ten years ago, the number of children in care in the UK has risen to an all-time high of 70,000. Children come into care for many reasons, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect or a crisis in the family where there is no one to look after them. It is always very sad when a family is separated, and of course the child suffers. This is the story of one of those children: Max.

Chapter One

A Bad Start (#ud047c53f-68b0-56a4-9d5d-0795a69c814f)

‘His mother is in hospital having two toes amputated and there have been complications.’

‘Oh dear. I am sorry,’ I said.

‘Max is going to be very upset when I tell him he won’t be going home,’ Jo, Max’s social worker, continued. ‘It will be the first time he’s been in foster care, although his family are known to the social services. I’m anticipating collecting him at the end of school and then bringing him straight to you, so I’m afraid he’ll just have what he stands up in.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of spare clothes.’ I already knew that Max was six years old.

‘Good. Hopefully I’ll be able to get some of his belongings tomorrow. I’m going to see his mother, Caz, this evening after I’ve brought Max to you. She wants him to visit her in hospital.’